Looking for a semi-rural but connected area to live near pittsburgh... (McKeesport: houses, to buy)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Would city residents be likely to be complicit with the OP's hopes of raising livestock and poultry?

The City relaxed rules on urban agriculture this year. For a $74 dollar permit, if you have a property of at least 2,000 square feet you can have up to five chickens/ducks, two dehorned miniature goats, and two beehives. More animals may be allowed on larger properties.

[Kippy]

Originally Posted by Kippy

Have you considered the area surrounding Greensburg? The city of Greensburg has lots of mom-and-pops and cultural amenities, while Hempfield Township, which surrounds Greensburg, has every chain and big box store one would expect in the suburbs. You don't need to go far from Greensburg before you hit rural farmland.

Here are some things that may interest you two:

Downtown Greensburg PA - Shop, Dine, Unwind

The White Rabbit Cafe & Pastisserie - Home

American Adventure Sports: https://m.facebook.com/ameradsports?...2Fameradsports

SummerSounds 2015 - Greensburg's Free Concerts in the Park

Westmorland Museum of American Art: https://www.wmuseumaa.org

28 West Second Gallery: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=55969991126

Nature's Way Market.

Sarver Hill Farm & CSA

All Saints Brewing Company

Greensburg Community Development Corporation | GCDC | thinkGREENSBURG | Grensburg, PA

Westmoreland Heritage :: Home

If you plan to have children someday, there are also tons of programs and organizations in the area for children.

Too much time has passed for me to edit this post. I just wanted to add that the Downtown Greensburg site launched fairly recently, and they still have a lot of work to do in terms of adding businesses, particularly restaurants. I don't want to give the wrong impression that Greensburg only has four dining establishments, as that is not the case.

Sorry for the mobile links; for those of you on PCs, here are the desktop versions:

American Adventure Sports: https://www.facebook.com/ameradsports

American Adventure Sports also has their own website: American Adventure Sports Cycling Shop

28 West Gallery and Studio Space: https://www.facebook.com/pages/28-We...ce/55969991126

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The City relaxed rules on urban agriculture this year. For a $74 dollar permit, if you have a property of at least 2,000 square feet you can have up to five chickens/ducks, two dehorned miniature goats, and two beehives. More animals may be allowed on larger properties.

That is relaxed from the last time I checked. Where does one buy dehorned goats? Asking for a friend.

[I_Like_Spam]

The city of Pittsburgh proper, not to mention the suburbs close and not so close, has plenty of "backwoodsy" kinds of places surprisingly close to the city and within the city limits.


Places like the back of Mt Oliver off of Parkwood Rd., the back of Wittman St. in Westwood, following Lakewood St in Elliott toward the Corliss tunnel, there are plenty of isolated places for you to raise chickens or zucchinis within a very short drive to town.

[bluecarebear]

Zelienople and Jackson Township are getting way too expensive. You will need to pay a good price for land. Zelie/Harmony won't allow animals. It's way too upscale now. Rentals aren't cheap either. It will be very tough to find a 2br house for $800. You will be lucky to find a 2br apt for that amount.

You have to understand that the "yoga, meditation, art/culture, outdoor activities, and travel among other things" types have moved in and gentrified the area (downtown Harmony actually has a yoga/gallery). Try Beaver County. You might also look at Ligonier and Armstrong County.

[crae09]

My suggestion would be out in oakdale, imperial etc. My sister in law lives out past burgettstown But it's a good hour with no traffic (&annoying in traffic on 376) u could always try new swickley township. Very rural but close to cranberry for your restaurants & shopping. I'm Not sure how easy rentals can be found in these areas though. My sister found her rented house by stopping at a gas station in the town & picking up a local "pennysaver"

[DunyaWolf]

I'm kind of in the same boat. We want rural, but are pretty progressive/liberal types, and it feels like it's hard to find a place that's both. Right now we are in the city and want to move...have wanted to move since we started living here basically. We are not city people.

You're also going to have trouble finding a place like that to rent. Before we bought this house, I lived in an apartment that was actually on a farm in Clinton. But that is probably a one of a kind deal. We do like the area out there though and are strongly considering it when we move again.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by DunyaWolf

I'm kind of in the same boat. We want rural, but are pretty progressive/liberal types, and it feels like it's hard to find a place that's both. Right now we are in the city and want to move...have wanted to move since we started living here basically. We are not city people.

That seems like an understatement. I can't really think of anywhere outside of the Pittsburgh city limits I would call "progressive/liberal". PA is notorious for being Pittsburgh and Philly with Alabama in between, and that really begins as soon as you leave Allegheny County.

Maybe Sewickley? Overall, the town went for Obama in 2012. But I don't know how much "rural" they have in that area. I guess it depends on your definition...

Any other ideas?

[alastad]

I think the area surrounding Greensburg and the area past Robinson are good suggestions. I wouldn't recommend going too much further past Imperial and Oakdale though.

[ElleFarmer]

If me and my husband ever move to Pittsburgh... Will you be our friend? lol

I'm looking for exactly what you are.. So I'm bookmarking this page for future reference!